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Biomedical subjects

G Santa Cruz

Publications and source records attributed to G Santa Cruz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Peripheral papillary tumor of type-II pneumocytes: a rare neoplasm of undetermined malignant potential.

Peripheral papillary adenomas of the lung are uncommon neoplasms (only ten cases have been described so far in the English literature) composed predominantly of type-II pneumocytes and generally considered benign. We describe here two additional cases of this lung tumor. In both cases histological examination revealed an encapsulated papillary neoplasm with invasion of the capsule and, in one case, invasion of the adjacent alveoli and visceral pleura too. The proliferative index (Ki67) was less than 2% and the epithelial cells were positive for cytokeratins, surfactant apoproteins (SP), and nuclear thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF- 1). Ultrastructurally, the epithelial cells showed the characteristic surface microvilli and cytoplasmic lamellar inclusions of type-II cells. Review of the literature has revealed two other cases of peripheral papillary adenoma of type-II pneumocytes with infiltrative features. Thus, we propose replacing the term peripheral papillary adenoma with peripheral papillary tumor of undetermined malignant potential.

Adenoma↗

Primary T cell CD30-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma associated with adult-onset celiac disease and presenting with skin lesions.

We report the case of a 52-year-old woman with primary CD30+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma of T cell phenotype with skin involvement, stage IVB, fulfilling almost all the clinical, histopathologic and immunophenotypic criteria for this disease, associated with adult-onset celiac disease. The diagnoses of malignancy and celiac disease were made during the same clinical episode. The clinical course of the patient has been extremely favorable and she is in complete remission, 15 months after finishing consolidation therapy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Evaluation of new small barium alginate microcapsules.

Microencapsulation of islets of Langerhans has been proposed in order to prevent immune rejection and possible recurrence of autoimmune disease. This study introduces a fast simple one-step microencapsulation procedure which allows the production of small sized barium-alginate beads. The volume of the microcapsules produced was approximately that of the encapsulated islets. Consequently, the insulin kinetics and the oxygen diffusion were favoured, while the transplanted tissue volume was reduced. Electron microscopy and immunoisolating testing were performed to evaluate the molecular cut-off, the physical and chemical characteristics of these microcapsules. Immunohistochemical staining and perifusion experiments of microencapsulated pancreatic islets showed their viability after the encapsulation procedure as well as in vivo experiments. In fact, microencapsulated porcine islets were implanted intraperitoneally into streptozotocin-diabetic rats. The xenografts reversed the hyperglycemic state and functioned for a period ranging from 9 to 385 days. The low mannuronic acid concentration and the purity grade of the alginate, exerted a combined influence on the capsule biocompatibility as in vivo studies showed.

Alginates↗

[Celiac disease in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and insulin-independent diabetes mellitus].

The IgA antigliadin antibodies AGA title was detected in 37 patients with IDDM, mean age 32.59 +/- 14.71, where mean duration of disease was 8.76 +/- 9.62 years, and 29 patients with NIDDM, mean age 55.31 +/- 14.71, where disease lasted 11.5 +/- 5.55 years. A group of 51 normal pts. was employed as control. In IDDM group 2 cases on 37 showed high AGA title (case n. 1 and n. 2) but just the case n. 1 where IDDM lasted 16 years, showed an histologic picture of coeliac disease (partial villous atrophy), while in the case n. 2 where IDDM was at the onset, the histologic picture was normal. The increase of AGA title in the IDDM at the onset is rarely associated with coeliac disease, but it seems to be an aspecific response. Viceversa an increased AGA title is in IDDM for greater than 1 years often associated with coeliac disease. In NIDDM no high AGA title was found. The prevalence of coeliac disease in our patients with IDDM was 1:37 and we suggest that diabetics be screened routinely for antigliadin antibody.

Adolescent↗

[2 cases of adult celiac disease simulating Berger's disease].

The authors describe two cases of celiac disease that simulated mesangial IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease). In both cases, gluten-free diet rapidly abated the histological and clinical picture, renal as well as intestinal. The authors conclude that all patients with Berger's disease should be tested systematically for antigliadin antibodies of the IgA class with a view to more accurate clinical classification and therapeutic planning.

Adult↗

Familial chronic B-cell malignancy. Hairy cell leukaemia in mother and daughter.

Two familial cases of hairy cell leukaemia are reported: a daughter, 44-years-old, with a very unusual ultrastructural pattern found in hairy cells, the "tubuloreticular inclusions", and her mother, 71-years-old, who was affected six years later. Routine laboratory investigations, cytochemical and cytogenetic studies including HLA typing, as well as in vitro proliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to polyclonal mitogens and to exogenous interleukin 2, were performed. The immunological characterization by assessing the cell surface phenotypic markers with monoclonal antibodies and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations were also carried out. In case 2 all tests were performed both on PBMC and on the bone marrow cells. To the best of our knowledge this is one of the first reports of such familial association. The possibility that genetic factors might play a role in the etiology of leukaemia in man is discussed: in our two cases, however, cytogenetic studies did not support this, while HLA typing revealed a non-significant association of HCL with DQw3 allele. Alternatively, an environmental factor has been considered, and a viral infection-perhaps by a retrovirus of the HTLV family has been suggested as tubuloreticular inclusions have been found in both hairy cell leukaemia, as reported, by us, and AIDS-LAS. However, a long time elapsed between the manifestation of HCL in the daughter and in the mother, and as the two patients had not been living together at that time, the possibility of a viral transmission seems minimal. The results of TEM and of immunological investigations are presented and discussed. Both, but particularly the latter, support the B cell nature of the hairy cell.

Adult↗

Histological and ultrastructural findings on mucocele of maxillary sinus.

The authors describe a rare case of mucocele of maxillary sinus and, on the basis of the histological and namely of the ultrastructural findings, they maintain that the mucocele has in all probability a multiple pathogenesis being dependent not only on the inflammatory processes, but also on other local predisposing factors and namely the active participation of the mucosa in the formation of the cavity of mucocele.

Adult↗

Hairy cell leukemia with ultrastructural finding of 'tubuloreticular inclusions' in hairy cells: a possible marker of a virus-induced disease?

This report describes a case of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) with typical hematological and clinical findings. The most striking feature is the electron microscopic pattern of intracytoplasmic inclusions within hairy cells (HCs), which can be identified with the 'tubuloreticular inclusions', very unusual and not yet reported in HCL. The same structures were frequently detected in peripheral mononuclear cells from patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and with chronic lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS), that are caused by the HTLV-III retrovirus. In the same patients elevated serum interferon levels were also found. The close relationship between tubuloreticular inclusions, viral infections and serum interferon levels suggests an etiologic association between a virus infection and outbreak of HCL. The results of our laboratory investigations also support a role for interferon in this disease.

Adult↗

Occurrence of cell death (apoptosis) during the involution of liver hyperplasia.

A single intravenous injection of lead nitrate at a dose of 10 mumoles/100 gm of body weight caused liver enlargement associated with hepatic cell proliferation. In the present study the involution of liver hyperplasia which follows the withdrawal of lead was studied in male Wistar rats. Histologic examination of liver sections from rats killed during the regression of the liver did not show any sign of massive lytic cell necrosis; no variation in the levels of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase could be observed during the same time period; however, light microscopic observation of sections from the involuting liver showed the presence of several apoptotic bodies; the occurrence of apoptotic bodies was also confirmed by ultrastructural examination. Their incidence was found to be markedly increased at 5 days after treatment, a time period when the liver is already regressing; very few apoptotic bodies were observed in control animals or in treated rats 2 days after lead injection, a time point when mitotic index reached its maximum, or at 15 days, when the liver had returned to control values. These findings suggest that removal of excess liver which follows the initial hyperplasia caused by lead is due to a controlled mode of cell death, namely, apoptosis.

Alanine Transaminase↗

[Case report of microencephalia].

A case of microencephalia diagnosed in a 34-year-old Sardinian woman is reported. The macroscopic and histologic features of this rare lesion are described in detail. Some interesting histologic patterns to the hypothesis of a very early encephalic developmental arrest are discussed.

Adult↗

[Acute disseminated histiocytosis X. Presentation of a case].

The AA. report a case of acute, diffuse histiocytosis X with an unfavourable course observed in a child of 33 months. The histological diagnosis, formulated on the basis of specimen taken from a skin nodule, was confirmed by ultrastructural observation of Birbeck bodies in the cytoplasm of proliferating Langerhans cells.

Acute Disease↗